Make that 23 goals this season for the 37-year-old Patrick Marleau.
The veteran San Jose Sharks forward opened the scoring Sunday against the Dallas Stars. That’s what you get when you leave a remarkably consistent scorer all alone in the slot like that.
Marleau is now only two goals shy of his total from a year ago. It’s definitely possible for him to surpass his 48-point total from 2015-16, as well, which is interesting for a few reasons:
-- His ability to remain a scoring threat certainly could bode well for San Jose as it looks to make another run toward the Stanley Cup after falling just short a year ago.
-- Marleau is a pending unrestricted free agent, nearing the end of a three-year, $20 million contract, and his future in San Jose -- and that of Joe Thornton as well -- will be something to keep an eye on once the Sharks hit their off-season.